Super Falcons players have celebrated the team’s qualification for the Round of 16 of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France, reports Completesports.com.
The African champions’ passage into the knockout stages was confirmed on Friday following the completion of group stage matches.
Thomas Dennerby’s charges will confront former champions Germany for a place in the quater-finals in Grenoble on Saturday. Kick-off is 4.30 pm Nigerian time.
It is the first time in 20 years that the super Falcons will play in the knockout stages of the competition after they reached the quarter-finals at the 1999 edition hosted by the United States of America.
Brazil, China and Cameroon were the first three teams to qualify for the quarter-finals third-placed teams. The West Africans hoped that Chile failed to beat Thailand by a three-goal advantage in Rennes later Thursday night, which came through.
Despite Chile’s 2-0 win over Thailand in their last Group E game in Montpellier, Super Falcons claimed the last spot among the four best third-placed teams, on superior goals.
A number of the players took to the social media to express their happiness on the team’s qualification.
“ROUND OF 16 baby @FIFAWWC @NGSuper_Falcons,” the team’s top striker Asisat Oshoala tweeted.
Veteran defender, Onome Ebi tweeted: “Thank you Lord, on to the next level. Round 16.”
Midfielder Ngozi Okobi also tweeted. “Finally, the LORD have done it finally & The journey continues. #FIFAWWC & we keep moving @NGSuper_Falcons.”
It is the first time since the inception of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 1991 that two African teams reached the knockout stages following Nigeria and Cameroon s qualification on Thursday.
By Adeboye Amosu
9 Comments
Viva naija, we have nothing to lose tomorrow… So gals gv d Germans hell… We believe in ur ability to do the impossible!!!
even if we r eliminated, we r going with the Host..after the VAR-cheat, nature has given them Brazil
I hope we can adopt the same france pattern but this time with 3 quick fowards left centre right so that we will hit them on the counter i am sure they will underrate us thinking we will defend for 90mins.
Coach Dennerby we beg you to give us a good foward line thank God we are not playing your country sweden so do us this favor thank you.
Yes we have nothing to lose!
Take your chances, ensure the ball gets into their ariel, hit the shots on target, give the keeper some work to do and surely anything can happen.
Even if we lose, let’s us lose honourably.
Also remember the VARs instrument!
Avoid careless tackles, there would be no mercy for u.
Put the ball on the ground and avoid this ‘police ball’ of shooting aimlessly ‘any where belly face’. That style of play will not work because all high balls will be headed out of ur reach by the tall German machines.
Put the ball on the ground as best as u can, advance ur passes skilfully on the ground and take ur chances.
Mind up, U r up against 11, referee and the vars refs.
I have said it before that germans name will sorry this saturday because our girls will detroy them,up nija
@ubah,we shall destroy Germany seriously!i don’t know where this optimism is coming from.Though I shall be glad we did.
But candidly speaking i think this is as far as we can get.This stage alone is an achievement.
From the players to the coaching staff i thank you for your performances in the ongoing tournament,you indeed have brought smiles and hope to Nigerians who equally are proud of your doggedness grit and the will to excel in this memorable tournament.
I am no pessimist rather a realist.Though this is football expect anything.
Good luck super falcons!
Right, we expect anything… The Germans will be full of pride, and you remember what happened when David faced Goliath?? My fingers are crossed…
My problem is with our forwards. Oparanozie appears fatigued. We need fast runners and good ball holders. Well I hope we do the right things needed in that match cos it’s going to be a difficult match.
In my opinion Oparanozie had a good game against the Koreans.
She was imposing and was full of running.
Though i didn’t see the Norway and French games however,i believe her experience would be needed against a very difficult opponents as the Germans.